The 2016 Rio Olympic games are likely to be the most digitally-enabled Olympics in history, but that presents as many opportunities for attackers as it does for the viewing public. New Proofpoint research suggests that digital risks could affect virtual attendees and fans worldwide.

It’s nothing new that attackers and scammers use popular events and national or regional crisis situations as lures to get victims to fall for their schemes. Tactics range from obtaining money as a fake charity, credential phishing or even malware downloads if victims click on the URL.

Fraudsters create fake social media accounts for many reasons. They may want to use your brand’s popularity to distribute malware, ads, pornography, or hate speech. Alternatively, they might want to protest or embarrass your brand.

Staying ahead of cybercriminals requires two key elements: best-of-breed technology and intelligence that keeps pace with the threat landscape. Proofpoint is committed to helping our customers protect their employees, the information they create, and their brands.